Four National Women's Groups: CCLOW · CFWEC · CRIAW · NOIVMWC

Furthermore, the Child Benefit must not be used to force single parents into working poverty. Single parents must have choice about whether they work at home raising their children or enter the paid work force.

Finally, the discussion paper proposes the reallocation of CAP funds from general welfare to benefits for children. Such are-deployment of funds ignores a fundamental fact - child poverty is family poverty and more often that not, children's poverty is women's poverty.

The Green Paper proposals will increase the workload on women in the home, as caregivers for children and the elderly, and in the community.

The number of working poor families rose by 30% over the past decade. Six of every 10 lone parents now live in poverty and for young mothers with small children, the number jumps to more than 8 out of 10.

In 1992, a full-time minimum-wage job under federal jurisdiction yielded a gross income of 55% of the poverty line. Minimum-wage jobs currently yield gross incomes below the poverty line in every province and territory in Canada.

More than one-third of women with disabilities have an annual income under $5,000. 80% of women with disabilities earn less than $10,000 and 60% report no earned income at all.

According to 1985 Statistics Canada data, women of colour drew an average salary of $18,900. This was $1,500 lower than the wages of men of colour, and $12,000 lower than that of white males.

In 1991,85% of Child Benefits already went to families with below-average incomes; there is little room for further targeting.